When you are tired of Trade Me, you are tired of life.

No, wait. That was Paris. Well I can tell you quite frankly that I am a bit tired of Trade Me. If I see another vendor demanding that I buy their car or it will be sent back to the states I will do something thoroughly rash like look at an alternative trading site. That will show them...

1952 Peugeot 203. This three-owner Peugeot 203 is still wearing its original paint and has been kept in trim for gentle rallying purposes. They are strong and sophisticated cars and possess considerably better road manners than anything one could have got from England in the same class.

For: A sunroof adds to the pleasure of ownership.
Against: Not particularly quick but so what?
Investment potential: 3/10. You may struggle to find a better one.

1967 MG 1100. Some vagueness in nomenclature suggests the vendor just wants to see her dad's final project gone from the shed. It looks like a tidy example although I am more enthused about the rarer two door model that has been for sale on Trade Me for months. This one needs much less work, however, and that is important in these straightened times.

For: British Racing Green and red vinyl. Grwwll.
Against: 1100s not much quicker than an Austin or Morris. Start looking online for that big valve head.
Investment potential: 2/10. There was a brisk trade to Japan for nice ones but I do not know if it has persisted.

1965 TVR Grantura. Blindingly expensive at 70K but the vendor is right to say that if you need to buy a local TVR Grantura 1800, this is your one opportunity. These MGB powered cars are well balanced, unlike the sociopathic Griffith models that had an American V8 jammed into the same short wheelbase package.  The price puts in the same league as the best racing Elan or an Alfa GTA Replica and I am not sure if it quite rates in that company. And no boot, to boot.

For: Am I damning this TVR with faint praise?
Against: I can think of better ways to spend 70K. But then people want 60K for a Karmann Ghia.
Investment potential: 1/10. I would wait for a bit.

1988 Porsche 944 Turbo. The 944 is the Porsche that dare not speak its name so why would you pay six times the going rate to own this one? It all goes back to why they were unloved in the first place. No-one could tell them apart from their van-engined ilk and so buyers were disinclined to pay the steep asking price. This is a very quick car so if you take your mind off what you are doing it will kill you. Just like a proper sports car should.

For: It may surprise you.
Against: Icky decor.
Investment potential: 1/10 I am sorry to report

1972 Ford Capri 3000 GT. I would ask delicate readers to look away at this point in case the purple metallic of this Mk1 Capri sears their retinas. I can see little point in the smaller engined models that could barely pull themselves up the drive with a bag of groceries in the back so get the biggest one possible.  This one needs a respray but it seems a shame to disturb its charming patina. Bwahahaha.

For: Where are my Whitesnake cassettes?
Against: Where do I begin?
Investment potential: 4/10. It is a 3 litre in a vile colour, therefore quite desirable.

In a dusty, one horse Texan town...

1955 Studebaker President Coupe. How much for the most tasteful American car of the 1950s, I hear you ask? 12K which seems good value to me compared to the ridiculous prices put on engineless heaps on Trade Me. The President Coupe wears its battle scars gracefully and people would take notice if you turned up in Queenstown with it. Particularly if you were wearing a black eye patch.

For: It belongs at the Museum of Modern Art but you can drive it.
Against: Nothing, damnit.
Investment potential: 3/10. Why would anyone pay 100K for a Chevrolet?